: Mon May 18, 2009 4:10 pm  

Moz 'Alternative Ulster' wrote:

Shame the way things panned out for Gary Hulse.

Alittle boy with a great big ego..

: Mon May 18, 2009 4:45 pm  

Anyway the point is we haven't had one for a while. Will O'Brien or Leatherbarrow make the step up?

: Mon May 18, 2009 5:36 pm  

Riley...

: Mon May 18, 2009 8:40 pm  

Wolfboy wrote:

Riley...

.... the last halfback to play for us in the Super League that came through our Youth and Academy system? Was it Durbin

: Tue May 19, 2009 11:25 am  

I would like to see a young half back from the reserves or Academy come through...and be helped an coached by a more experienced half back pairing perhaps Briers or Monas can bring one of our talented youngsters through. We should at least give one of them a run out before the end of the season to see wot they can do.....

I have seen the young half back O'Brien play for the reserves and the Academy and he appears to have loads of potential and I believe he could make the step up, with the right coach and TS could well be it.

If Monas is going to leave and Briers doesn't stay for another year, then I think we need someone with experience to be signed and if that is someone from the NRL so be it, a player that can bring one of young backs through for the long term would be a good option

: Tue May 19, 2009 12:14 pm  

seen O'Brien play a few times and he should be given a chance but i'm not holding my breath, he does'nt take the ball into the line enough for me and lacks that explosive pace, good kicking game though can see him making it at Widnes or Leigh but SL???

Like the look of the stand off whos much bigger, Hamilton think hes called. Great hands and not a bad kicker, lacks pace again though, maybe he could end up a 13, reminds me a lot of Andy Farrell style of play.

One things for sure, they all need a chance because doing it will sort the men out from the boys and at present we can only say they are still boys.

: Tue May 19, 2009 12:26 pm  

I don't know Fletcher whether you have seen O'Brien play for the reserves alot and or Academy....But his organisation and distribution with the ball is excellent and I am not the only one to think so....He has a very good kicking game...when he played for the reserves when playing Leeds he was outstanding and bearing in mind he is only 17 years old and only had his first year at Academy level last year I think to say he could make it at Widnes or a lower grade club is way off the mark....

He has gone on several breaks for both teams and cutting threw the line..someone told me he has scored more points than anyone else in both teams.....

He creates for others and himself in virtually every game couple that with his kicking and vision feel he defo has potential at SL level.....
Hamilton could be good in centre role I think.....

: Tue May 19, 2009 12:35 pm  

I think it is very premature to right off O'Brien. I can't comment about his pace, as it has been mentioned he doesn't take on the line that much, but he doesn't need to. His passing ability and selection allied to his kicking means he doesn't need to.

He is a bit of a throwback relative to most of the SL halfbacks, which is something I am very happy about.